Head Start and Early Head Start in Traverse City, MI

4 open Head Start and Early Head Start locations in Traverse City, from the federal Office of Head Start.

Early Head Start

NMCAA Early Learning Center- Discovery

3962 3 Mile Rd N, Traverse City, MI 49686

Run by NW Michigan Community Action Agency

Head Start

NMCAA Preschool - Chum's Plaza

847 US Highway 31 S, Traverse City, MI 49685

Run by NW Michigan Community Action Agency

Head Start

NMCAA Preschool - Traverse Heights

933 Rose St, Traverse City, MI 49686

Run by NW Michigan Community Action Agency

Head Start and Early Head Start

NMCAA- Fisher Building

1050 Silver Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684

Run by NW Michigan Community Action Agency

Who can enroll

Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5 (ask the center about its birthday cutoff date). Early Head Start serves pregnant women, babies and toddlers under 3. Both are free for families who qualify.

Families usually qualify when household income is at or below the federal poverty guideline for their family size, or when the family gets public assistance such as TANF or SSI, the child is in foster care, or the family is experiencing homelessness. Programs may also enroll some children from families just above the guideline, and each program sets its own application steps and waitlist, so ask the center.

Official HHS poverty guidelines (current year) · Head Start's own center locator

Also in Traverse City

Licensed child care and after-school programs in Traverse City · Youth nonprofits in Traverse City · Michigan program rules

Source: Head Start Service Location Dataset, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start (CSV file), file dated November 8, 2026. The information is reported by each Head Start grant recipient and can be out of date, so call the center to confirm its address, hours and openings. Locations the program lists as closed are left out. Home-based locations show city and ZIP code only. A listing is not an endorsement.